A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Octave since 1880
Babies named Octave per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Octave's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 47 |
| 1890s | 33 |
| 1900s | 20 |
| 1910s | 94 |
| 1920s | 97 |
| 1930s | 76 |
| 1940s | 41 |
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Octave is a rare and distinctive name with Latin origins meaning 'eighth'. It peaked in popularity in 1892, and after decades of obscurity, it has been rising very slowly since 2022. Though it has no rank in recent years, its revival may appeal to parents seeking a name with a numerical meaning and classic European feel. The name is most strongly associated with French culture, where it has been used for centuries. Its top states are unrecorded due to scarcity, but it remains a choice with historical charm.
Octave derives from the Latin name Octavius, which in turn comes from octavus meaning 'eighth'. It was traditionally given to the eighth child in a family, following the Roman naming convention for ordinal numbers. The name has been used in France and French-speaking regions since the Middle Ages, often as an informal variant of Octave or Octavius.
“Octave” around the world
Where Octave lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
435
babies in 2024
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tavy
Sibling names for Octave
Names that share Octave's style, for a brother or sister.
